National briefs

The Chief of the Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal
Angus Houston,
returned to work yesterday after a prostate operation. In a statement issued yesterday he said the “surgery went very well’’. The defence chief faces a mounting toll on troops in Afghanistan following the deaths of two more Australian soldiers at the weekend, bringing the nation’s toll to 20. John Kerin

A mass meeting of pilots in Sydney yesterday passed a motion of no confidence in Jetstar chief executive
Bruce Buchanan
over the airline’s plan to establish a pilot base in Singapore with lower pay and conditions than their Australian counterparts. Jetstar refused to comment last night. Mark Skulley

South Australia’s rural sector could rebound strongly this year if grain prices remain high to the end of harvest. State Agriculture Minister Michael O’Brien said the initial estimate of crop production was 6.34 million tonnes, down from 7.7 million tonnes last year. But he said prices were expected to increase the value of production and exports. AAP

Melbourne households will be able to water gardens at any time and wash cars at home when water restrictions are eased to stage 2 for the first time in four years. The restrictions will be eased from level 3a to level 2 from September 1 following heavy rains and after water storage levels rose to almost 40 per cent, their highest level in almost three years. AAP